This is because Steve Thompson, one of the older heads in the English squad at 32, is excited by the group of young players coming through.

Dan Cole, Ben Foden and Chris Ashton are just three of the players who have made an impression in the last 12 months and they will be hoping they can help steer England to their first Six Nations Championship since 2003.

Thompson said the young lads have inspired him to keep playing rugby, adding: "We managed to win a couple in the autumn and there's a great belief in the squad that we can improve again in the Six Nations."

Fans of the home side will be confident of a win, as they have never lost an encounter against their Italian counterparts in this tournament.

England will have to name a new skipper after Lewis Moody was ruled out for six weeks with a knee injury.